Month: December 2023

By Chloe and Rajnandini 

The UK government plans to send off the first group of illegal migrants to Rwanda next spring. 

On November 15, despite the Supreme Court’s decision, the UK government set out to proceed with its decision to expel illegal migrants to Rwanda, Africa.

Ignoring the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that it is unlawful, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is moving forward with his proposal to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda.

“Stop the boats” is one of five objectives that Sunak has set for his government to reduce the influx of asylum seekers.

According to Sunak, planes to transfer migrants to Rwanda would begin operating by the spring of 2024.

An agreement was signed in April last year between London and Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, based on which Britain would transfer asylum-seekers to Rwanda so that the Rwandan asylum system could handle their requests for asylum.

Those who were found to be ineligible for protection would be deported, while those who were successful would remain in Rwanda.

On the same day, Sunak said in parliament, “When people know that if they come here illegally, they won’t get to stay, then they will stop coming altogether.”

Sunak offered a two-pronged alternative in a press conference following what appeared to be a political setback to his government: The first objective is to turn the protocol of understanding with Rwanda into an international treaty in order to satisfy some of the court’s concerns concerning the migrant’s safety.

A five-year project was first announced in April 2022, which will send a number of asylum seekers who enter the UK unlawfully to Rwanda for processing.

Due to legal reasons, the first flight, which was scheduled for June 2022, was cancelled.

According to the BBC, the number of migrants arriving in small, unseaworthy boats to the UK has significantly increased over time, with the asylum seekers paying criminal groups that smuggle people into the country in dangerous vessels.

Several of those boats have sunk, and people have lost their lives by drowning as a result.

Aadeel, who overstayed in the UK, said he does not want to move or being send to anywhere else. 

Aadeel, an immigrant who arrived in the UK a few years ago and is frightened of being deported, refused to give his last name.

He shared about some of his challenges in life. 

Aadeel imagined a better life, one without violence and poverty. In an effort to improve his situation, he took the difficult choice to travel to the UK at great risk in the hopes of finding a better future.

“I work long hours for little money and am always afraid of being found out to be an undocumented immigrant.” said Aadeel.

Aadeel continued in trying despite the difficulties. Along his journey, he made friends, became fluent in the English language, and engaged himself within the community. He found hope and strength in the charity and support of strangers.

“The new policy scares me even more because what if I am next, I don’t want to leave this country to stay in Rwanda, I am more comfortable here.” added Aadeel.

“The legislation would prevent a large group of highly vulnerable refugees from depending on human rights protections by allowing it up to the Home Secretary to determine who should be safeguarded and those who should be deported—and excluding the courts almost entirely,” Adam Wagner, a well-known human rights lawyer, said in March of this year, the BBC reported.

Following that, more controversially, there are proposals to effectively overturn the Supreme Court’s decision.

Home Secretary James Cleverly agreed to a new deal with Rwanda in response to public outrage over the government’s proposal to deport asylum seekers there.

On December 5, in order to sign the latest migration agreement, Cleverly travelled to the capital of Rwanda.

The new agreement, which substitutes a non-binding memorandum of understanding and was signed by Cleverly, states that Rwanda will not deport asylum seekers to a nation where their freedom or lives would be in danger—one of the court’s primary concerns.

Cleverly projected that in the upcoming months, migrants will be travelling to Rwanda because the treaty resolved every concern brought forward by the Supreme Court.

The British Red Cross has stated their opinion on the policy and said that there should be no role for outsourcing in the UK’s asylum system. Numerous people are personally informing us of the worry and anxiety that recent decisions have caused. 

“That this policy has left a significant impact on the men, women, and children seeking protection here, despite the fact they might not be directly affected by them.”

“We wish to collaborate with the government in order to build a more fair, humane, and efficient system. In order to lessen the overflow of applications, our country should offer safer alternatives to risky travel, better decision-making processes, and make sure that everyone is treated with respect and decency at all times.” said Mike Adamson the Chief Executive of British Red Cross.

“Britain has always been a popular immigration destination for Hongkongers, especially for those who hold BNO,” said Tina Cheng, associate director of Midland Immigration Consultancy. “However, it is uncertain whether the British government would also tighten the applications of BNO holders’ citizenship approval, including stricter consideration and requirements.” 

The UK has been accepting a few hundred thousands of Ukraine refugees since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War in 2022, and also HongKongers who hold British National Overseas (BNO) passports that want to become permanent British citizens.

Although the British government claimed the numbers of the above populations have slowed down, Midland Immigration Consultancy, which provides constant to overseas migrants, is worried that the British government might also tighten BNO holders migration rules.

Cheng added that due to such uncertain factors, the amount of Hong Kong migrants to the UK might reduce if there’s any new and stricter policies.

Apart from sending immigrants to Rwanda, the British government introduced more stricter plans to tighten the UK’s migration rules starting from next spring time.

Being a popular destination for migrants, the UK  took 745,000 net migrants last year, making it the highest recorded figure. 

On 4 December, home secretary James Cleverly announced in the Parliament that he aimed to reduce the numbers of immigrants by 300,000 people each year by increasing the minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visa applicants – from 26,000 pounds to 38,700 pounds, a total of 47 per cent rise.Family visa applicants’ average wage requirement is also increased to 38,700 pounds.

According to Statista, the average wage of the British workforce is only 34,963 pounds annually in 2023.

Meanwhile, the British government will reexamine and tighten the country’s shortage occupation list by possibly reducing positions that open for worker visa granted application. 

People who work for the medical and health care sectors will be exempted from this new rule, but those who would like to bring their family members and dependents to the UK, will no longer be eligible to do so. Care providers in England will now only be able to sponsor migrant workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission.  

In addition starting from 16 January 2024, foreign workers must pay an extra of 411 pounds for the Immigration health surcharge (IHS) in order to have free access to the healthcare service of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

The IHS is a must during the immigration application and it is set to be increased from 624 pounds to 1,035 pounds. 

According to the Office for National Statistics, the United Kingdom intakes 745,000 net migrants, more than last year’s estimated number of 606,000 people, making it the highest recorded figure. Most of the migrants come from non-european countries, namely India, Nigeria and China. 

Home Office figures showed visas granted to foreign health and social care workers had doubled to 143,990 in the year to September. Those also brought in 173,896 dependents with them to the UK.

The home office explained such schemes hope to encourage business to consider taking local talent first instead of overly relying on migration workforces. 

Cleverly said to the press that there’s a need to reduce the migrant population as it has gone far beyond the reasonable range. “It is clear that net migration remains far too high. By leaving the European Union we gained control over who can come to the UK, but far more must be done to bring those numbers down so British workers are not undercut and our public services put under less strain,” Cleverly said in the Parliament. 

The Home Office explains that such policies aim to encourage business to consider British locals first instead of foreign workforce. 

Madeleine Sumption, British political scientist and director of University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory said that the decision of raising the family income threshold would have the biggest impact.

Sumption’s job includes analysing the UK’s migration policies and research on the policies impacts to the society. She said the requirement that British citizens can bring a foreign partner to live with them in the UK is now doubled, making it extra difficult for family migration.

“Numbers of family migrations do not take up the majority of the migration population,but those who are affected, can be affected very significantly. The largest impacts will fall on lower-income British citizens, particularly women and younger people, who earn lower wages,” Sumption said.

Sumption explained that since COVID-19, the number of non-europeans coming to the UK for study and work purposes have significantly increased, especially those who are interested in the medical and healthcare sectors. She said it is the main reason for the high recorded net migration numbers in 2022.  

The healthcare field is fearful that the immigration cut-down plans would worsen the manpower shortage issue. Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, which represents large private care home providers, expressed his concern that it would be harder for care providers to recruit foreign workers.

Green said in a presser that if the government now wants to move away from international recruitment as the solution to fixing the social care workforce crisis, it must act swiftly and invest in improving the pay and conditions to drive domestic recruitment.

UK’s migration policies are targeting not only illegal migrants or refugees but also the possible future workforces and investors. Britain’s biggest public service union UNISON secretary Christina McAnea criticised that such policies would lead to a manpower shortage in the healthcare sector, calling it a “complete disaster”. 

McAnea said on the British Television Talk TV’s interview that migrants summed up a large workforce in British hospitals and health care centres after Brexit. Without foreign workers, it would be a huge challenge for hospital operations. 

The next United Kingdom general election is set to be held no later than 28 January 2025, prediction said the election might be held next year. The Conservative Party is facing pressure and stress brought by the huge population of migrants. To call for more polls, migrant control has become a major focus in the British political agenda. 

In the very heart of Europe, a storm of controversy disturbs the serene landscapes of Nové Heřminovy as the village grapples with the divisive issue of constructing a flood protection reservoir.

For almost a century the chorus of opposition against the reservoir has been reverberating through the village and did not end even when the construction received a zoning decision this July. Near the tides of the river Opava, people still remember the tragic floods in 1997 that took the lives of dozens of people and left many more homeless. The event is still viewed as the most tragic natural disaster in the Czech Republic as well as central Europe. Building a dam should prevent it from ever happening again. The cost, however, would be paid by Nové Heřminovy.

Refusing to follow in the footsteps of Slezská Harta reservoir

The Nové Heřminovy reservoir, poised to become the Czech Republic’s newest water body, follows in the footsteps of the Slezská Harta reservoir within the same region. Slezská Harta, birthed through the inundation of the entire village of Karlovec and segments of Nová Pláň, Rázová, Dlouhá Stráň, Leskovec, and Roudno, stands as a predecessor to Nové Heřminovy. However, unlike their counterparts in the past, the residents of Nové Heřminovy vehemently opposed a similar fate.

Engaging in a protracted battle with the state, the citizens of Nové Heřminovy succeeded in safeguarding their homes from complete submersion when the state ultimately sanctioned a reduced version of the dam. Nevertheless, even this scaled-down dam necessitates the forced relocation of numerous residents and an irreversible alternation of the whole village.

The Shift

In the year of 2008, the citizens of Nové Heřminovy voiced their disagreement by declaring a referendum in the hope that it may save their beloved home.

“Before the new referendum is declared, this one is still valid and the city leaders should do everything to defend the interests of the citizens who expressed their opinions against the dam construction,” says the city council member Dana Kalašová

However, this July there was a big breakthrough as the political power shifted in Nové Heřminovy.  With the change in the elections and the coming of developers on top of the city council, the planned Nové Heřminovy reservoir received a zoning decision. The construction will start in 2027 and should be finished in 2031. The proposed dam is designed with a 330-meter-long concrete barrier standing at a height of 26.5 meters. The total reservoir capacity is 14.54 million cubic meters of water, with 11.56 million allocated for mitigating major floods. The inundated area covers nearly 130 hectares. The estimated cost is 4.26 billion Czech crowns which equals 175 million euro.                                                                                                                                  

Reservoir as the promise of economic growth

According to the organization Povodí Odry which oversees the construction, the Nové Heřminovy dam represents a multifaceted project. Not only will it serve as a crucial flood protection measure, but it also addresses concerns related to drought and the adverse impacts of climate change. Moreover, the organization claims that the dam is positioned to catalyze economic growth in the region, particularly in the tourism sector. Povodí Odry champions this initiative as a substantial investment that stands in the collective interest of the entire region. Despite the organization’s promises, public discontent persists as a part of Heřminovy should be flooded in the process.        

Voices against the dam

According to the native Kalašová, the organization Povodí Odry which oversees the construction applies undue pressure and is unclear in its communication, so it is hard to reach a compromise.

Ivo Dokoupil, an environmental activist, and the representative of the movement Duha Jeseníky has been fighting alongside the village’s citizens for years. He also points out the organization’s false play.

“Povodí Odry blackmails the mayors of neighbouring municipalities. They promised them protection in the form of dams in exchange for a signature expressing content with the water reservoir in Nové Heřminovy, but in the 20 years, they gained nothing. It is not an exactly fair game.”

So far, a billion Czech crowns, which is around 41 million euro, have been spent with no visible effect except for the reservoir plans. In addition to that, the European Commission has excluded the project from the National Recovery Plan and will provide no funding as it is not aligned with their environmental strategy. The project must rely on state resources.

Environmental effects

Amid the disruption in Nové Heřminovy and the costs of the reservoir, the primary opposition to the dam construction stems from the grim environmental effects that it would bring.

In expressing the grave concerns surrounding the construction of the dam on the Opava River, the local environmental advocate Dokoupil passionately articulates the potential consequences. They emphasize the imminent catastrophe, particularly in the most precious stretch of the river, where the tranquility and untouched nature have made it a haven for diverse protected species. Their poignant words shed light on the ecological richness at stake and the severe impact that the dam’s construction could have on the delicate balance of this pristine environment. River dam construction can significantly alter the natural flow and ecology of a river, leading to habitat disruption and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, the accumulation of sediment behind dams can impact water quality downstream, posing environmental challenges for aquatic ecosystems.

“Populations of freshwater species have fallen by an average of 83% globally since 1970, the largest decline of any species group, according to WWF Living Planet Report 2022.. Dams are major contributors to this global decline in freshwater biodiversity, mainly through altering river flows, disrupting fish migration, reducing water quality or water quantity,”

described Claire Baffert, senior water Policy Officer at WWF

The proposal of an alternative strategy

Nevertheless, alternative strategies and nature-based flood management solutions exist and can be cheaper. Baffert adds that implementing nature-based flood management solutions may require time, but their efficiency is undeniable. Actions like expanding rivers, linking them to floodplains, and establishing riparian forests serve as natural buffers, storing excess water during high flows. Beyond flood control, these measures offer additional advantages like generating eco-tourism income and storing carbon.                                                                      

The opposition calls for one of such strategies to be implemented. The intended strategy was created by an engineer and independent water manager Václav Černý and stands upon natural solutions. Despite its clear benefits, the strategy was not adopted.   

                                              

Hopes for the future 

“Even though the chance of winning seems lower, we do not want to give up. We want to fight a be on the right side. We cannot stop the zoning decision; we can only hold it back and point out its problematic parts,” .    

Voiced Dokoupil with a spirit.

Despite the odds, many still believe in the future of Nové Heřminovy without the dam.  Or at least that it can once again be a lively place, united in its community and its vision.

Germany currently holds the highest homelessness rate in Europe, with 372,000 identified as homeless in 2023 according to the Federal Statistical Office. With figures almost double those of last year, what is causing the surge?

By Olivia Watts and Bente van Diepen 

It is a never good time of the year to be homeless, but with the peak of winter fast approaching, the challenge is intensified. Though not a new problem, homelessness is on the rise across Europe, with Germany currently holding the highest number of homeless people across the city. 

As struggles with the cost of living ensue, Germany is seeing a steep increase in people living in poverty, with limited access to food and shelter. 

Spokesperson for Berliner Stadtmission, Barbara Breuer explains “we see around 600 people every day who come to get their food.” 

According to figures published by the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), Germany recorded a total of 84,500 people identifying as homeless in 2022, proving that “policy responses to the rising number of people without a home in European countries remains insufficient.” 

With escalated living costs, housing shortages and the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War, it is no surprise that Germany is experiencing the increase. 

A higher population, a higher homeless rate 

As stated in reports published by the Federal Homeless Group on Working Aid (BAG W), the recorded figures for the number of homeless people in 2022 showed a proportion of 29% holding German citizenship. The other 71% did not.  

The report showed that the predominant cause of homelessness for those with German citizenship was job termination (57%), rent and energy debts (21%), conflicts in the living environment (20%) and divorce (16%). For non-Germans, the vast majority were shown to have never gained access to a home in Germany, proving the root cause of homelessness to be departure from their native country. 

Following the increased numbers of displaced people as an effect of the Russo-Ukrainian War, in combination with a steady increase from other conflicted areas, the figures lean overwhelmingly toward refugees accounting for a large proportion of homelessness across Germany.  

On speaking about rising numbers in homelessness, Chris Melzer, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) explained that “there were drastic changes, without a doubt […] there are more people and people who have lost their homes, and not everybody can find shelter here in Germany.” 

Following this influx, Germany is now the third biggest host country for refugees, with a total of 2.4 million. At a challenging time with increased demand, the need for voluntary organisations and external support has become greater, calling attention to the need for a great governmental response. 

“Until now, the system is functioning thanks to so many people who are helping. I am talking about organised volunteers who are working for the Red Cross, churches, and other NGOs, but also ordinary people who just help refugees. We saw it in 2022, as we did in 2016/17, that people just help other people,” Melzer continued. 

For homeless people without German citizenship, societal reasons are not alone at the source of the problem, but rather the personal strain of being displaced. 

“The biggest difference [for homeless refugees] of course is something no government could provide. You are uprooted, you are not at home anymore—you probably do not know what is happening at home or to your loved ones,” Melzer said. 

Despite the rise in number of homeless people, UNHCR has described the situation as manageable, with the living conditions between German and non-German homeless people being comparable. 

“Asylum seekers have a standard, like people who are unemployed for example, and this includes housing, healthcare etc. for the refugees, even a little more than the asylum seekers, so it can be seen to be close to the German society,” Melzer emphasised. 

UNHCR has challenged the narrative that homelessness amongst refugees is at an all-time high.  

Speaking on whether homelessness is a major problem, Melzer emphasised “What we know from our daily talks with the refugee council is that we do not see it as a major problem.”  

“We are talking about 84 million people living here in Germany, I am afraid we must face the situation that there will be homeless people when you have so many people in one place […] that does not mean ignoring the problem, like it is natural, of course not. I would not call it a crisis, a problem sure, without any doubt and we need to take care of it, but not a crisis,” he continued. 

The power of people 

For many sleeping rough, there is nowhere to turn to. It is times like these where non-profit organisations prove to be an essential resource to those in need.  

Beginning in times of industrialisation, with a mission of providing a place of safety for those in need, Berliner Stadtmission, a social organisation taking care of homeless people, see hundreds of people every day in search of food.  

Speaking on a local level, spokesperson for Berliner Stadtmission, Barbara Breuer explained the increase in homelessness can be linked to the increase in poverty across Germany. 

“Poverty is on the rise in Berlin, more and more people cannot afford to go and buy their food by themself,” Breuer said. 

As seen with support for refugees, voluntary work is essential in controlling the needs of the homeless. To rely on the government alone, would not be possible. 

“I think that the holes that need to be stuffed are becoming bigger and bigger for lots of organisations, as there are lots of people who need help […] we have wonderful people helping us here, voluntarily, and if they would not come, we would have to close this facility and not be able to open the doors every day,” Breuer continued. 

Berliner Stadtmission does not only act as a refuge for the homeless but also for the community.  

For frequent visitor, Helga, Berliner Stadtmission provides a “social hub” during lonelier times.  

“Yesterday, someone gifted me a small Christmas tree, and I was so happy I cried,” Helga told us.  

Breuer explained the importance of this for members of the community, “We are kind of a substitute for family, so people come here to tell us about their wellbeing, how they are, how they slept etc […] It’s just someone [they] can talk to, someone who will listen.” 

Berliner Stadtmission may be among the biggest organisations in Germany, but smaller organisations are also making fundamental changes. 

1892 Hilft, formed from a group of football fans, all “united by the desire to make [the] city a little bit better”, introduced their ‘soup bus’, accessible every Tuesday and Thursday, providing a place for homeless people in Berlin to access warm food.  

André Ruschkowski, responsible for driving the soup bus, explains its importance to the community. 

“People come here, who do not have enough money to eat. In Alexanderplatz, we have a lot of homeless people and drug takers,” Ruschkowski said. 

“Everybody can access the soup […] but when we see a poor person, someone with no shoes for example, we want to help him especially,” Ruschkowski continued. 

Berliner Stadtmission, 1892Hilft providing support at a time of increased need. Credit: Bente van Diepen

Response from the state 

With considerable support from the public, the question remains: how is the government responding?  

Proposed by the Green parliamentary group, Die Grünen, in 2019 “Ensuring the Human Right to Housing—Consistently Combatting Homelessness”, aimed to respond to the surge by encouraging the government to establish a plan of action. This is intended to provide easier access to accommodation, to lower homelessness rates. 

Spokesperson for the party, Hanna Steinmuller, explains “the measures [are] aimed at strengthening homeless prevention, including changes in rental law and a housing policy for affordable housing.” 

As the party were not part of the elected federal government until 2021, the party could not shape policy decisions until very recently.  

Advocating to address homelessness, in alliance with the ‘traffic light’ government (Social Democrats (SDP) and Liberals (FDP)), Die Grünen party introduced a national action plan. 

“Currently being developed by the responsible ministry, this program’s goal is to overcome homelessness by 2030,” Steinmuller said. 

“It is a central concern for the ‘traffic light’ government to overcome homelessness in Germany by 2030. We bear a responsibility to ensure that every person in our country can afford a roof over their head […] all political levels, including federal, state, and local governments, are collaboratively working with affected individuals, social organisations, and the housing sector towards this objective,” Steinmuller continued. 

According to Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Bauwesen, translated to ‘Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction,’ the implementation of the action plan will consist of annual work programs, self-organized forums, support through scientific expertise, annual review meetings and process control by federal departments.  

Setting an example 

With Germany grappling with meeting such an increased demand, looking to other countries’ methods can prove useful. 

As homelessness figures soar across many European countries, Finland, alongside Denmark, have been named the only European countries where homelessness is decreasing. The common factor being the ‘Housing First Policy’ which both countries have adopted.  

The First Housing Policy is based on the idea of providing a home to the homeless before asking for any conditions in return. This means that the person in need would not require a job, be sober, or need to change their lifestyle in any way before being provided accommodation. Housing is provided first. 

It comes from the idea that people can move forward more easily when they have a place to stay. According to Finland’s Ministry of the Environment, the number of long-term homeless people decreased by 35% between 2008, when Housing First was implemented, and 2015. In 2016, Finland saw homeless figures fall below 7,000 for the first time. 

According to figures published by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA), homelessness has been on the decline for 8 continuous years in Finland. 

Whilst many will argue that there is no miracle cure for homelessness, Finland’s strategy is proving a great success.  

According to a case study conducted by The Atlas, a hub for political case studies, it has been estimated that Housing First has provided 4,600 homes in the past decade. In addition, it is predicted that 4 out of 5 people securing Housing First properties will keep their flat and lead a more stable life, and 20% of those who leave either do so of their own accord or are unable to pay the rent. Even in these cases, they are still able to reapply for housing support. 

The proof is in the figures when it comes to Finland being a successful country for tackling homelessness.  

The Solutions 

Homelessness can appear in many forms, making the complexity of the problem difficult to approach. However, there is never a harder time of the year to be without a home, increasing the need for support. Amidst a time of difficulty for many in Germany, members of the community have enlisted themselves to act. 

From volunteering to donating clothing and supplies, there are many ways the community can help, and fortunately, this is being seen every day. 

Dario Adamic, founder of ‘homeless veggie dinners,’ organised by a group of friends, is proof of how a little can go a long way. 

Starting in 2010 by chance, Adamic, alongside friends, began hosting monthly dinners for people without access to food.  

Over their years of operation, ‘homeless veggie dinners’ have brought people together, slowly changing the stigma around homelessness. 

“The idea is that when you see a poorly dressed person on the street and they approach you, most people just walk away, they feel uncomfortable. This is a natural human reaction. But the thing is, when you sit at the same table and the reason you came is the same reason they came, for food and company, you do not have this feeling,” Adamic explained. 

“This dinner is a great excuse to open the doors to communication, where people can sit and be with each other, and talk about things,” he continued. 

For many homeless people, the ‘silent’ challenge is loneliness. When asked for his biggest piece of advice for the public, Adamic emphasised the significance of being acknowledged. 

“The most important thing for the people who live on the margin of our society is to be acknowledged, this means a lot. People walk by and they do not see them, they are invisible, and this invisibility is what hurts them the most,” he said. 

“Talking to a person on the street does not cost you anything, maybe give them more than money can give,” he continued.